Some very important variations although the essential elements of survival after death, Mediumship and Healing are the same. However, Spiritism teaches reincarnation whereas Spiritualism is neutral on the subject (although individual Spiritualist may be for or against it). You may get a feel of the reincarnation issue here http://www.spiritualismlink.com/f24-reincarnation-real-or-not

Spiritism is based around the works of Allan Kardec, real name Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail (1804 -1869). You will find a little more about it on the forum here http://www.spiritualismlink.com/f27-allan-kardec-and-the-spiritists

Where Spiritualism has no formal written crede the Spiritists have the books left to them by Kardec, assembled from writings produced by mediums from all over the world.

Allan Kardec never intended Spiritism to become a religion, it was to be a philosophy of life. In practice it has become a religion and seems to fit comfortably alongside Catholicism throughout those countries where that was the dominant religion. It is one of the largest bodies in Brazil where the numbers are far in excess of the total number of declared Spiritualists world wide.